Gestating: meaning, definitions and examples

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gestating

 

[ ˈdʒɛsteɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

biological process

Gestating refers to the period of development of an embryo or fetus within the womb of a female animal. This process varies in length and complexity depending on the species. During gestation, the fetus undergoes crucial stages of development that are vital for its survival after birth. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe the process of developing or thinking through ideas or plans.

Synonyms

conceiving, developing, growing.

Examples of usage

  • The cat is gestating her kittens.
  • The elephant has a long gestation period.
  • After gestating the project for months, she finally presented her ideas.
  • She is gestating a new business concept.

Translations

Translations of the word "gestating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 gestando

🇮🇳 गर्भधारण

🇩🇪 schwanger sein

🇮🇩 mengandung

🇺🇦 вагітність

🇵🇱 ciąża

🇯🇵 妊娠中

🇫🇷 gestation

🇪🇸 gestación

🇹🇷 gebelik

🇰🇷 임신 중

🇸🇦 حمل

🇨🇿 těhotenství

🇸🇰 tehotenstvo

🇨🇳 怀孕

🇸🇮 nosečnost

🇮🇸 meðganga

🇰🇿 жүкті болу

🇬🇪 მშობიარობა

🇦🇿 hamiləlik

🇲🇽 gestación

Etymology

The term 'gestating' comes from the Latin word 'gestare,' which means to bear or carry. This root is related to the word 'gestation,' which specifically refers to the period of fetal development. The word evolved in English to encompass not only biological meanings but also metaphorical ones, indicating the incubation or development of ideas. The use of 'gestate' in the context of ideas emerged as people began to draw parallels between biological processes of development and cognitive processes. This dual usage highlights the interconnectedness of growth in both living organisms and human creativity.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,614, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.